This can be a difficult and uneasy situation to be in. First, we would calculate the gestational age of your pregnancy based on the first day of your last menstrual cycle, and then verify the age by ultrasound. Some women have been able to determine paternity just by figuring out the date of conception.
If that is not helpful, there are both pre-natal and post-natal tests available to determine the father of your baby. Most tests can be performed by your OB or hospital.
No matter what the result, please remember: You have value. You are worthy. You matter. And so does the precious life growing inside of you.
If you need someone to talk with or even just someone to listen, please reach out. At Clarity, we know that every pregnancy is unique, whether planned or unplanned, and we want to get to know you and your unique situation. Visit or contact the center nearest you.
Ultrasound scans are considered a safe procedure for pregnancies and have been used as a tool for many years. Ultrasound scans typically are not painful, although you may feel pressure or discomfort. At Clarity, we offer limited obstetrical ultrasound to confirm viable pregnancy, after a pregnancy test has shown positive.
When you come in to Clarity for an ultrasound scan, it is best that you come with a full bladder. You will be lying on your back during the scan and the sonographer will apply warm gel to the lower abdomen. The sonographer will then slide the abdominal probe around applying gentle pressure. With a full bladder this can sometimes be uncomfortable, but should not be painful. If the images are clear, pictures and measurements can be easily taken to help confirm the viability of your pregnancy.
If the ultrasound scans are not clear, the sonographer may suggest switching from an abdominal (outside) scan to a transvaginal (inside) scan. You will be asked to give approval for the transvaginal scan, and most often a transvaginal scan is suggested when a pregnancy is earlier than expected, but can be helpful in other situations as well. You will be given privacy to undress from the waist down and instruction to cover with a disposable sheet. The sonographer will slide the transvaginal probe inside the vagina and up against the cervix. This should not be painful, but again most clients do experience mild pressure. The images from this scan are typically more clear, allowing for better pictures and measurements to be obtained.
At Clarity, we perform limited obstetrical ultrasounds to confirm that your pregnancy is a viable pregnancy. There are three markers we look for when performing an ultrasound at Clarity:
We want to confirm the pregnancy is located in the uterus.
We want to confirm if this is a viable pregnancy. (Are we able to confirm a heart rate?)
We want to determine an accurate due date.
Getting a lab quality pregnancy test and a limited obstetrical ultrasounds are the first steps you can take in making informed choices for your health. To schedule an appointment, please contact your nearest Clarity location today.
Pregnancy and planning for a baby can be stressful, and not having a strong support system can add even more stress to your situation. Clarity Pregnancy Services is here to help with emotional, physical and moral support as you go through your pregnancy and that help will continue after your baby is born. At Clarity, we have a large network of individuals, churches and businesses that provides support that allows us to be able to provide that support at no cost to you.
We can help with maternity clothes, a safe place for your baby to sleep, car seat, baby shower in a bag and other material assistance. Our staff and volunteers at Clarity are here to support you throughout your pregnancy and after the birth of your baby.
In addition to the services offered at Clarity, there are other area agencies that we can connect you with to help you have a safe and healthy family. Among others is Embrace Grace, a local pregnancy support group offered through Tuesday Connections here in Columbus. (They actually have a new group beginning Tuesday, August 28th! Check out the Tuesday Connection site for more details)
You can stop by a Clarity location, call or email us, and you will reach someone who cares. No matter your circumstance, Clarity is here to help provide material needs as well as emotional support!
You do not need a parent with you to visit. The test is done at no cost to you, and is completely confidential which means that no one working at the center will release information about you (except if/when required by state law to contact the proper authorities in the case if a client is under 14, homicidal, suicidal, being sexually abused, is under 16 and sexual partner is 18 or older.)
You will be met by caring, trained folks who love what they do! They will help you make the best choices for you. They will not judge you, this is the stuff they do everyday. You will be in the very best hands!
If for some reason, you are unable to get to the center on your own, please talk with a trusted adult in your life that will point you in the healthiest direction. That person may be your school nurse, a teacher, or a mentor.
For the address and phone number of the center closest to you, click on the CONTACT link. Hope you will call or come in soon AND put your mind at ease! You will be so glad you did!
Often called the “morning-after pill,” it is intended to prevent pregnancy after known or suspected contraceptive failure, unprotected intercourse or forced sex. The Plan B may also prevent the new life from implanting in the uterus, ending a very early pregnancy, rather than preventing pregnancy altogether.
How does it work?
It works primarily by preventing the egg release from the ovary but it is possible it prevents the egg and sperm from meeting. There is also a chance that it may prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. This would end development of the newly formed life; however, it won’t disrupt an already implanted pregnancy. Clarity can do a confidential pregnancy test for you to confirm a positive test from a previous sexual encounter. If that test shows positive then there would be no need to take “Plan B.”
What are the side effects?
They may include changes in your period, nausea, lower abdominal pain, tiredness, headache and dizziness. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant. Women who experience severe abdominal pain after taking the drug may have an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and should get immediate medical help.
How well does it work?
Since there are only a handful of days each month when pregnancy is possible, many take Plan B One-Step when it will have zero impact on pregnancy risk. However, studies suggest if taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex it reduces pregnancy up to 89%. If taken within 24 hours, it is about 95% effective. Please remember Plan B has no impact on preventing STI’s.
What else should you know?
There are no long-term studies on the safety of using this drug frequently over long periods of time. It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
At Clarity Pregnancy Services, we do not provide or refer for the morning after pill. We would be happy to speak with you more about this option, if you would like. Just stop by or contact the center nearest you.
Sources: Before You Decide magazine, the morning-after pill by Vicki L. Dihle, PA-C
